State University, Stanislaus, in partnership with the national search firm Scott
Healy & Associates, invites applications and nominations for the position of Founding Program Director, Physician
Assistant Program. California State University, Stanislaus seeks a bold and visionary leader to serve as the Founding Program
Director for a proposed Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program. This is a rare opportunity to build a program from the ground
up at a university deeply committed to student success, community engagement, and regional impact in California's Central Valley. This
position is located in Stockton, California.
This is a rare opportunity to build a program from inception at a
Hispanic-Serving Institution where leadership is actively advancing healthcare education as a cornerstone of regional transformation. We
seek an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and mission-driven leader who is excited to shape a program that expands educational access and
prepares highly skilled physician assistants to serve the diverse and underserved communities of California's Central Valley. The Founding
Program Director will have the opportunity to establish a program grounded in student success, health equity, workforce development, and
community engagement, while helping address the region's evolving healthcare needs.
Responsibilities:
The Program Director provides leadership, academic oversight, and administrative management for the MPAS program. The Director will lead
all aspects of program development, implementation, accreditation, and continuous improvement in alignment with ARC-PA standards and
university policies.
As the founding leader, the Director will:
- Provide strategic leadership in
- developing and launching the MPAS program.
- Design and implement a forward-thinking, student-centered curriculum.
- Lead the
- program through the ARC-PA accreditation process and ensure continuing compliance with ARC-PA accreditation standards.
- Recruit and
- support a diverse and high-performing faculty and staff team.
- Build and advance pathways for student recruitment, retention, and
- success.
- Lead program assessment, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
- Advance interprofessional education and
- community-based learning.
- Develop and sustain clinical education partnerships.
- Manage program resources and planning
- effectively.
- Foster a culture aligned with Stan State's commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student-centered
- learning.
Required Qualifications:
- Current certification by the
- NCCPA.
- Eligibility for licensure (or current licensure) as a Physician Assistant in California.
- Minimum of a master's degree
- (doctorate preferred).
- At least three (3) years of full-time higher education experience in a PA program.
- At least two (2)
- years of experience in a leadership or administrative role in PA education.
- Demonstrated knowledge of ARC-PA accreditation standards
- and processes.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
Preferred
Qualifications:
- Earned doctoral degree (PhD, EdD, DHSc, DMSc, or related field).
- Prior experience as a
- Program Director or Associate Program Director.
- Experience launching or substantially revising a PA program.
- Demonstrated
- record of scholarship and professional service.
- Experience in interprofessional education and simulation-based instruction.
About California State University, Stanislaus:
California State University, Stanislaus, also known as Stanislaus State, is a
student-centered, Hispanic-Serving Institution dedicated to fostering inclusive excellence, expanding access, and transforming lives through
education. The University's mission emphasizes personalized learning, academic excellence, and partnerships that enrich the surrounding
community, making it an ideal environment to launch a program that addresses critical healthcare workforce needs.
Stanislaus State
serves the San Joaquin Valley and is a critical educational resource for a six-county region of approximately 1.5 million people. The
University is fully committed to creating a culture of diversity and inclusion - one in which every person in the University community feels
safe to express their views without fear of reprisal. Widely recognized for its quality academic programs, the University has 10 nationally
accredited programs and 662 faculty members. 94 percent of full-time faculty hold doctorates or terminal degrees in their fields. The
University offers 43 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 7 post-graduate credentials, a doctorate in education and serves more than
10,000 students. New instructional facilities have been built for the unique pedagogy of professional programs, laboratory sciences and
performing arts.
Stanislaus State continues to receive national recognition with its ranking as one of the best 384 colleges in the
nation by The Princeton Review. The University was one of 12 public universities in the nation to be recognized by the American Association
of State Colleges and Universities for demonstrating exceptional performance in retention and graduation rates. In addition, U.S. News and
World Report ranks Stanislaus State in its top 10 among public universities in the West, while Washington Monthly honored Stanislaus State
as the West's No. 1 university for the money. Stanislaus State also is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S.
Department of Education.
About the College of Health, Human Services, and Education:
Stanislaus
State's new College of Health, Human Services, and Education brings together Education, Kinesiology, Social Work,
Psychology and Child Development, and Nursing to prepare highly skilled, compassionate professionals who strengthen the health, learning,
and well-being of communities throughout the Central Valley and beyond. Rooted in a commitment to student success, equity, and regional
engagement, the college advances interdisciplinary collaboration, applied learning, community partnerships, research, and innovative
academic pathways that respond to evolving workforce and community needs. Together, the college's programs create meaningful opportunities
for students to learn across disciplines, connect classroom knowledge to real-world practice, and make a lasting difference in the
communities they serve.
About the Community:
Stockton, CA, offers a flavorful Northern California experience in the heart of
the Central Valley, known for its rich agricultural heritage, waterways, and exceptionally diverse cultural community. As the county seat of
San Joaquin County and home to California's largest inland seaport, Stockton has a strong connection to agriculture, transportation,
logistics, manufacturing, education, and healthcare, with the surrounding fertile farmland supplying an abundance of fruits, nuts, and other
crops. The city's waterfront, Delta waterways, farmers' markets, restaurants, arts, and cultural festivals provide plenty to explore, from
the Haggin Museum and historic Bob Hope Theatre to professional and collegiate sports, boating, fishing, and outdoor recreation. Its central
location also puts Sacramento, San Francisco, Lodi wine country, the Sierra foothills, and Yosemite within easy reach, making Stockton an
appealing base for experiencing the broader Northern California region.
Just a short drive south, Turlock, CA, is a welcoming and growing community in the heart of the Central
Valley and home to Stanislaus State's main campus. With a strong agricultural heritage and a vibrant university presence, Turlock offers a
blend of small-city charm, cultural diversity, and opportunities for education, healthcare, business, and community engagement. The city is
known for its tree-lined neighborhoods, local restaurants, farmers' markets, parks, and community events, while nearby Modesto and the
surrounding Central Valley provide additional shopping, dining, entertainment, and recreational opportunities. Together, Stockton and
Turlock offer access to a diverse range of communities and experiences while providing a convenient location for exploring Northern
California, with the Bay Area, Sacramento, Sierra Nevada, and Yosemite all within driving distance.
Application and
Nomination Process:
All correspondence relating to the position of Founding Program Director, Physician
Assistant Programat California State University, Stanislaus should be directed in confidence to the University's
executive search consultant:
Christopher S. Healy, President
Scott Healy & Associates
A complete application should include the
following:
- Cover Letter outlining your interest and qualifications for the position;
- Updated
- CV;
- Contact information for three (3) professional references with title, institutional affiliation, email address and direct phone
- numbers. (No references will be contacted without written permission from the candidate.)
Applications received by
November 30, 2026 will receive priority consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled.
Salary Range: $180,000-$209,880 per year, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Salary is paid in 12 monthly
payments per academic year, commensurate with education and experience within the salary schedule for the appropriate faculty rank. As a
member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.
The university is an Equal Opportunity
Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information,
gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, National origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran
status, or any other protected status. You can learn more about federal equal employment opportunity protections by accessing the Department
of Labor's notices: http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf
Individuals with disabling conditions who require accommodation during the recruitment process may contact the ADA
Coordinator at (209) 667-3159.